Mechanism for automatically severing the terminal threads of a stitched book or the like



June 1934- o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 1,961,

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEVERING THE TERMINAL THREADS OF A STITCHEDBOOK OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l J1me 1934- o.KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 1.96L

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEVERING THE TERMINAL THREADS OF A STITCHEDBOOK OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 5,1934 MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEVER- ING THE TERMINAL THREADS OF ASTITCHED BOOK OR THE LIKE Oscar Kleinschmit and Oskar Miiller, Leipzig-Plagwitz, Germany, assignors to firm Gebruder' Brehmer,Leipzig-Plagwitz, Germany ApplicationFebruary 11, 1931, Serial No.515,067 In Germany October 25, 1930 22 Claims.

The present invention relates to book-stitching machines and moreparticularly concerns that type of machine in which means are providedfor inserting, if desired, both simple chain-loop stitches and alsocross or staggered stitches into thesections of a continuously stitchedbook-pad, as is well-known in the art.

. In order to separate the stitched books from a book-pad stitched inthismanner it is necessary to sever the interconnecting threads betweenthe adjacent books.

Hitherto this operation has been performed manually although, when theinterconnecting threads form part of idle stitches provided between theadjacent books, the threads may be severed mechanically as described inthe copending application No. 501,128, filed by Andre Rivlois and OskarMiiller on DecemberQ, 1930. Such stitches may, however, be inserted inbookpads Without the use of interposed idle stitches, or alternativelythe stitches may be utilized with or without idle stitches to securebacking strips to the book-pads. In this case it may prove to beimpractical to use the mechanism described in the above numberedco-pending application.

The object, of the present invention is to provide means formechanically severing the interconnecting threads between the adjacentbooks of a stitched book-pad when the latter is stitched without theprovision of idle stitches between the books, or with staggered stitchesand/or provided with a backing strip as is known in the art.

According to this invention mechanism is provided for use in athread-stitching machine whereby the thread leading from theiterminalstitch of a stitched book to the initial stitch of an adjacent book isengaged mechanically and guided to thread severing means.

In order that the above description may be more readily understood, oneembodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings which show, by way of example, oneconstructionalform of the invention applied to a stitching-machine 5 of the swingingcarrier type whereby both simple chain-loop stitches and staggeredstitches may be inserted, if desired, into the book-sections in knownmanner. Referring to the accompanying drawings:

50, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the threadsevering apparatus shownpositioned adjacent the stitching mechanism of a book-stitching machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1. .55. Fig. 3'shows part of a book-pad provided with a backing strip stitchedwith asimple chain-loop stitch.

Fig. 4 shows part of a book-pad provided with a wide backing strip whichis stitched thereon by means of staggered or cross stitches.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the thread guides in theretracted position, and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 but with the thread guides inthe advanced position.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it willv be seen that when a backing stripis attached to the back of the book-pad, either by means of a simplechain-stitch (Fig. 3) or by staggered stitches (Fig. 4) the thread guideor selector as described in the co-pending application No. 501,128described above will not find the connecting thread a since when thesimple chain stitch is used, the the thread a will be positioned underthe backing strip while, in stitching the book-pads with staggeredstitches the connecting thread a although now positioned on top of thebacking strip b, is displaced from side to side during the stitching andso renders difiicult the correct registration of the thread'guide andrequisite interconnecting thread. 0 Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it willbe seen that the thread guiding and severing apparatus is arranged tofunction in a manner similar to that described in the above referred toco-pending application. A guide bar or rail 10, extending trans- 35versely over the machine, carries a series of conveniently adjustableguide-supports 12 in which guide members are securely mounted. Thelatter members each carry a thread selector or guide 14a or 141) and areadapted to be reciprocated from the main drive of the machine in asubstantially horizontal plane by the mechanism shown in the drawings. Athread severing member 15 is mounted adjacent to or on each thread guide14a or 141) and may be adapted to be reciprocated with the associatedthread guide or to remain stationary as desired. As shown more clearlyin Figs. 5 and 6, the thread guides 140. which are associated with thesimple chainloop stitching means are positioned immediately below and inline with the stitching needles 16. The extremity of each thread guide14a. is curved and provided with a hook 17 having an obliquely slantingnose 18 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6). Upon engaging the taut thread 0 (Figs. 2 and6) the nose 18 of the thread guide will deflect the thread and so causethe latter to slide over the curved nose and thus lodge behind the hookI! (Fig. 6).

In order to insert the staggered stitches into the book-pad, thestitching needle 19 is periodically displaced in known manner during itsstitching operation to the positions shown in full and chain dottedlines in Fig. 2 Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and. 6, thethread guide 14?) is shown positioned midway in the path of lateraltravel of the stitching needle 19. The member 1% is shaped as a straightneedle having a hooked extremity. From the arrangement of the threads ashown in Fig. 4 it follows that a loose thread loop is not available toengage the member 14b but when positioned as above described andarranged to reciprocate in timed relation to the movement of thestitching needle, the thread 0 becomes laid across the thread guide andis retained by the hooked extremity of the latter.

As above mentioned, the means employed for reciprocating the threadguides and also for timing the movements of the said guides may be asdescribed in the co-pending application No.

561,128 mentioned above, and it will be readily appreciated that theactuating mechanisms of the thread guides 14a and 1419 may be linkedtogether to synchronize the movement of the thread guides when bothtypes of stitches are simultaneously inserted in the same book-pad.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: When the stitching needle16 has completed the terminal stitch of a completely stitched bookforming part or" a book-pad, the said stitching needle is retractedupwardly and so draws the thread 0 taut in an upward'direction as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The thread-guide 140. which is in line with the needle16 and retracted (Fig. 5) is then advanced by the timed actuatingmechanism and so'engages the inclined nose 18 with the thread 0. Thecontinued forward movement of the thread guide l la causes the thread 0to slide round the nose 18 and finally to lodge behind the hook portion17 thereof (Figs. 2 and 6). The thread c which thus retained upon thethread guide 14a is then carried downwards by the stitching needle 16when the latter inserts the initial stitch into the adjacent booksection and is so laid across the thread guide 1441 to be retractedtogether with the latter during the reciprocating movement of theactuating mechanism. During the stitching of the subsequent sections ofthe book-pad, the thread 0 is progrossed along the thread guide Li laand is eventually brought into contact with the thread-severing member15 and so severed. In the mean.- time when dealing with book-pads inwhich both types or" stitches are inserted, the thread guide 142) hasalso received a thread 0 in the following manner. The thread guide 14bis timed to be positioned in the retracted position shown in Fig. 5,when the stitching needle 19 is-inserting stitches into the intermediatesections of a book, and until the stitching needle has completed theterminal stitch of a-completely stitched book. The stitching needle isthen once more retracted upwardly and displaced laterally from thechaindotted position 190. to the full line position shown in 2, and atthis moment the thread guide 14b is advanced to the position shown inFig. 6.

Thus, when the stitching needle 19 descends to insert the initial stitchinto the adjacent book,

the thread 0 is laid across the thread guide 141).

behind the hooked extremity thereof as shown in dcttedlines in Fig. 2.The subsequent retraction of the thread guide 141) then draws the threadslightly in advance of the attached book and. in due course, during theprogress of the book-pad, the thread 0 isguided towards the threadsevering member 15 and severed thereby.

We do not wish to limit the scope of the invention to the specific formof reciprocating and timing mechanism shown inthe accompanying drawings,since it will be obvious that such mechanism may be readily varied inaccordance with the particular type of stitching machine in which theinvention is embodied.

We claim: 7

1. In a'book-stitching machine, in combination, a stitching needleadapted to be displaced laterally during its operative movement, athread guide provided with a hooked extremity positioned in the lateralpath of travel of the said stitching needle, means for reciprocating thesaid thread guide, means for controlling the movement of the said threadguide, a thread severing member, means for engaging a thread carried bythe said stitching needle with the said thread guide, and means forcontacting the said thread with the thread severing means.

2. In a 'bookstitching' machine, means for severing the interconnectingthreads of a continuously stitched book-pad, comprising a threadsevering device, a thread guideextending from said thread severingdevice to a thread leading from the stitched book-pad, andmeans forengaging said thread guide with said thread so that the latter becomeslooped over the said thread guide and progresses along the guide duringthe travel of the book-pad to engage said thread severing member.

3. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the interconnectingthreads of a continuously stitched book-pad, comprising a threadsevering device, a thread guide extending from said device toa threadleadingfrom the stitched book-pad, means for engaging said thread guidewith said thread, and means for retaining said thread upon said threadguide so that the thread becomes looped over said guide and progressesalong the guide during the travelof the bookpad to contactwith saidthread severing device.

4. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the interconnectingthreads of a continuously stitched book-pad, comprising a threadsevering device, athread guide extending from said thread severingdevice to a thread extending upwardly from the stitched book-pad, andmeans for engaging said thread guide with said updrawn thread so thatthe latter becomes looped over said thread'guide and progresses alongthe guide during the travel of the book-pad to engage said threadsevering member. 7

5. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the interconnectingthreads of a continuously stitched book-pad, comprising ajthreadsevering device, a thread guide provided with a hooked extremity andextending from said'thread severing device towards a thread leading fromthe stitched book-pad, and meansfor engaging the hooked extremity ofsaid thread guide with said thread so that the latter becomes loopedover saidguide and progresses towards said thread severing member duringthe travel of the bookpad. I 6. In a book-stitching machine, means forsevering the terminal threads of a stitched book or the like, comprisinga thread guide, a thread severing device mounted on said thread guide,and means for engaging, said thread guide with the terminal thread tobeseve ed so that the latter becomes looped over the sai guide andprogresses toward the thread severing device mounted on the said guidefinally to contact therewith during the travel of the book-pad.

'7. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the terminal threadsof a stitched book or the like, comprising a thread guide provided witha hooked extremity, a thread severing device mounted upon said threadguide, and means for engaging the hooked extremity of said guide with athread leading from a stitched book so that the said thread isprogressed along the thread guide to engage the said thread severingdevice during the travel of the book-pad.

8. In a book-stitching machine provided with thread sewing needles,means for severing the connecting threads of a continuously stitchedbook-pad, comprising a thread severing device, a movable thread guideextending from the thread sewing needles to said thread severing device,means for positioning said thread guide so that the thread dependingfrom one of said needles becomes looped thereover during thestitch-forming movements of said needles, and means for retaining saidlooped thread upon said thread guide until the looped thread isprogressed along the said guide during the travel of the book-pad tocontact with said thread severing device.

9. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the interconnectingthreads of a continuously stitched book-pad, comprising a thread guideadapted to reciprocate in the plane of the thread to be severed andshaped to engage said thread so that the latter becomes looped there--over, and a thread severing device associated with said thread guide andadapted to sever the said thread as the latter is progressed along saidthread guide during the travel of the book-pad.

10. In a book-stitching machine, in combination, thread sewing needles,a thread guide comprising a substantially horizontal shaft having ahooked extremity, a thread severing blade mounted upon the said guideshaft, and means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to said shaftwhereby the latter moves into the path of a thread depending from one ofsaid sewing needles so that the thread becomes looped around the shaftto move into contact with the said thread severing blade during thetravel of the bookpad.

11. In a book-stitching machine, in combination, thread sewing needlesadapted to insert chain-loop stitches into a continuously stitchedbook-pad, a thread guide comprising a substantially horizontal shafthaving a hooked extremity, a thread severing blade mounted upon the saidshaft, and means for moving said shaft to: engage the hooked extremitythereof with a thread extending from a formed chain-loop stitch so thatthe said thread becomes drawn over the said shaft and is progressedalong the shaft to contact with the said severing blade.

12. In a book-stitching machine, in combination, a stitching needleadapted to be displaced laterally during its operative movement, athread guide positioned in a plane lying intermediate the path oflateral movement of said needle, means for moving said guideperiodically to a position beneath the path of lateral movement of saidneedle so that in the subsequent lateral movement of said needle athread extending therefrom becomes looped over said guide, and asevering device associated with said guide to contact with and sever thelooped thread.

13. In a book-stitching machine, in combination, a stitching needleadapted to be displaced laterally during its operative movement, athread guide positioned in a plane lying intermediate the path oflateral movement of said needle, means for moving said guideperiodically to a position beneath the path of lateral movement of saidneedle so that in the subsequent lateral movement of said needle athread extending therefrom becomes looped over said guide, and asevering device mounted upon said guide to contact with and sever thelooped thread.

14. In a book-stitching machine, in combination, a stitching needleadapted to be displaced laterally during its operative movement, ashafted thread guide having its thread-engaging extremity hooked andlying in a plane intermediate the path of lateral movement of saidneedle, a reciprocatory carrier adapted to support said thread guide andmove the hooked extremity thereof to a position beneath the path oflateral movement of said stitching needle so that a thread extendingtherefrom becomes looped over said guide during the subsequent stitchingoperations of said needle, and a thread-severing device associated withsaid guide to contact with and sever the looped thread.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein the thread-severingdevice comprises a cutting blade mounted upon the shaft of thethread-guiding device.

16. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the interconnectedthreads of a stitched book-pad or the like comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal thread guide, means for reciprocating saidthread guide longitudinally thereof, a stitching needle adapted to drawa thread across the path of travel of said thread guide, means forlooping said thread over said thread guide so that the thread traversessaid guide and moves longitudinally thereof, and a thread-severingmember mounted adjacent said thread guide to engage the moving loopedthread.

17. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the thread extendingfrom a stitched book, comprising a thread guide set in the plane of thethread, said guide being offset adjacent its free extremity to lie awayfrom said plane and provided with an inclined nose extending from saidofiset portion into said plane, a severing device associated with saidthread guide, and means for displacing said guide toengage said nosethereof with said thread which becomes looped over said guide andthereby guided into contact with said severing means during thesubsequent stitching operations.

18. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the thread extendingfrom a stitched book, comprising a thread guide set in the plane of thethread, said guide being offset laterally adjacent its free extremity tolie away from said plane and provided with an inclined nose extendingfrom said offset portion into said plane, a severing device associatedwith said thread guide, and means for displacing said guide to contactsaid nose thereof with said thread which becomes looped over said guideand thereby guided into contact with said severing device during thesubsequent stitching operations.

19. In a book-stitching machine, means for severing the thread extendingfrom a stitched book, comprising a substantially horizontalthread-guiding member set in the plane of the thread, said member beingoffset laterally adjacent its free extremity to lie away from saidplane, and provided with an inclined nose extending from said offsetportion into said'plane, a threadsevering device mounted on saidthread-guiding member, and means for imparting movement to saidthread-guiding member to contact said nose thread-guiding member, andmeans for imparting movement to said thread-guidingmember to contactsaid nose thereof with said thread which becomes looped over said guideand thereby guided into contact with said severing device during thesubsequent stitching operations.

21. In a book-stitching machine, in combination, a reciprocatorystitching needle adapted periodically to hold extended a thread leadingupwards from a stitched book, a thread-guiding member set to operate inthe plane of said thread,

said thread-guiding member being offset laterally adjacent its freeextremity to lie clear of the path of said stitching needle and providedwith an inclined nose leading from said offset portion into said plane,a thread-severing device mounted upon said thread-guiding member, andmeans for imparting movement to said thread-guiding member to contactsaid nose thereof with said thread which becomes looped over said guideand thereby guided into contact with said severing device during thesubsequent stitching operations.

22. In a book-stitchingmachine, in combination, a thread-stitchingneedle adapted to be displaced laterally during its operative movement,a thread guide positioned in a plane intermediate the path of lateralmovement of said stitching needle, means for moving said thread guideinto said lateral path of movement so that a thread depending from saidneedle becomes looped over said guide and progresses lengthwise of thelatter in the subsequent stitching operations, a threadsevering memberarranged to contact said looped threads, a second thread-stitchingneedle adapted periodically to hold extended a thread leading upwardsfrom a stitched book, a thread-guiding member set to operate in theplane of said thread, said thread-guiding member being offset laterallyadjacent its free extremity to lie clear of the path of movement of saidsecond needle and provided with an inclined nose leading from saidoffset portion into said plane, a thread-severing device associated withsaid second thread-guiding member, and means for imparting movement tosaid second thread-guiding member to contact said nose thereof with saidthread which becomes looped over said second guide and thereby guided,into contact with said second severing device during the subsequentstitching operations of said

